Smith Perspective: A Voth-man prophecy

[TheRed]

I can say with almost 100% certainty that when DG replied to the question and said that everybody on the roster was being evaluated, that he didn't think it would get blown out of control so quickly that he needed to make a call to Smitty to smooth things out. By the time it got to that point, twitter and PFTMZ and all that were all over it and Smitty heard it and then didn't do the situation any favors by going on the radio.

You can say DG made an error in his answer yes. But couldn't Smitty have called him and said hey DG what's going on instead of going on the radio almost immediately to contribute fuel to this bullshit dumpster fire? I think he could have. DG isn't the only one to blame here.

Marriages can only end in two ways, death, or a messy, bitter divorce.

 

Steve Smith isn't the GM. It isn't his job to manage people.

 

Again, I think this will be a learning experience for Gettleman. But I don't blame Steve for being offended by the way it was handled.

[Montsta]

New guy here....is this thing on?

The question above is really the only one that bothers me.

I trust that GMagic has this whole WR situation under control but feel he could have handled the ill-fated presser better.

In my opinion, there shouldn't have been any "on the spot" or "without notice" questions considering he was clearly already evaluating Smith's future. I mean the reporter asking the question didn't spark the idea in DG's head. If Smith truly wasn't in the loop regarding his status I feel DG should have been prepared to address the question in a way that didn't lead to the media frenzy that followed.

Welcome to The Huddle.

The point many of us are trying to make is that even if DG and co. were in the process of evaluating the roster, just like they said they were, being asked about Smitty's future with the team was a baited question IMO that didn't have an answer that wouldn't have been blown out of control by the media and fans like a wildfire.

Even a "no comment" or a "I'm not discussing that until I talk to steve" would have led to rampant speculation that probably would have put us exactly where we are right now.

[TheRed]

New guy here....is this thing on?

 

The question above is really the only one that bothers me.

 

I trust that GMagic has this whole WR situation under control but feel he could have handled the ill-fated presser better.

 

In my opinion, there shouldn't have been any "on the spot" or "without notice" questions considering he was clearly already evaluating Smith's future. I mean the reporter asking the question didn't spark the idea in DG's head. If Smith truly wasn't in the loop regarding his status I feel DG should have been prepared to address the question in a way that didn't lead to the media frenzy that followed.

 

Good post. Have some pie.

[Montsta]

Steve Smith isn't the GM. It isn't his job to manage people.

Again, I think this will be a learning experience for Gettleman. But I don't blame Steve for being offended by the way it was handled.

This is true, but SS is a well paid professional. So to say DG screwed this up irreparably all by himself by naively answering one question at one press conference, and absolving SS who went on the air to do an interview about it is a bit if a double standard IMO.

[TheRed]

This is true, but SS is a well paid professional. So to say DG screwed this up irreparably all by himself by naively answering one question at one press conference, and absolving SS who went on the air to do an interview about it is a bit if a double standard IMO.

 

I wasn't surprised to hear Steve's response. I don't think he was totally out of line or rude. I'm not absolving him of blame though. But even a new GM like Gettleman has to know how a guy like Smith is, he's fiery. There should have been a meeting before it got to the media.

[Rockahype]

Even a "no comment" or a "I'm not discussing that until I talk to steve" would have led to rampant speculation that probably would have put us exactly where we are right now.

 

Agreed, and that is exactly why I feel a little hypocritical at the same time because I don't know what in the world I would have said.

[Montsta]

I wasn't surprised to hear Steve's response. I don't think he was totally out of line or rude. I'm not absolving him of blame though. But even a new GM like Gettleman has to know how a guy like Smith is, he's fiery. There should have been a meeting before it got to the media.

But therein lies the mistakes we make as fans. We absolve Steve's involvement by saying he's fiery and DG should have known. We all say oh well "Smitty gonna Smitty" and it's ok. But in turn people get mad at DG for his personality trait of straightforward honesty.

We can't hate DG because of his honesty. It's his personality.

Which is why when outside fans call Steve Smith a punk for punching multiple teammates, we chock it off as fire and passion in his personality.

It goes both ways.

[TheRed]

But therein lies the mistakes we make as fans. We absolve Steve's involvement by saying he's fiery and DG should have known. We all say oh well "Smitty gonna Smitty" and it's ok. But in turn people get mad at DG for his personality trait of straightforward honesty.

We can't hate DG because of his honesty. It's his personality.

Which is why when outside fans call Steve Smith a punk for punching multiple teammates, we chock it off as fire and passion in his personality.

It goes both ways.

 

Gettleman is the GM. Quite frankly I'm growing more, and more tired of this pity party for him. He isn't the one with his job in jeapordy.

 

Also, I don't think anyone here literally "hates" Gettleman, except maybe for a few silly people running around.

[TheRed]

Seriously with the punching incident again? Jesus christ. Well, that's it for me.

[Carolinaguy]

Smith has a base salary of $11MM and a cap hit of $17MM over the next two seasons combined, along with a player option in 2016 worth $9MM. But Panthers only free up $1M in cap space by releasing him. Was this a play to knock Smith off his perch to restructure, Smith refused and it put the team in a corner? Is he a disturbance to the front office? 

[CarolinaCoolin]

Smith has a base salary of $11MM and a cap hit of $17MM over the next two seasons combined, along with a player option in 2016 worth $9MM. But Panthers only free up $1M in cap space by releasing him. Was this a play to knock Smith off his perch to restructure, Smith refused and it put the team in a corner? Is he a disturbance to the front office?

I think as a June 1st he frees up like 3 or 4 mil not 100% on that though

[52Beast]

Gettleman could have offered a different response to the media. Hell he could have said no comment.

 

The worst thing that he did was say nothing after opening a can of worms.

 

Public Relations Rule #1

 

NEVER say "no comment".  It leaves way too much room for speculation and implies lack of knowledge and/or understanding of the situation. 

 

IMO - it should have been handled by having the face to face conversation with Steve earlier in the off season.  THAT's what he deserved and earned - the right to an open and honest conversation prior to the public becoming aware.

[SmokinwithWilly]

People just need to chill out. All these idiots on social networks and radio saying they are never going to a Panther game again are fuging morons.

Just makes getting seats a little easier for those of us without PSLs.

[SCP]

Just makes getting seats a little easier for those of us without PSLs.

Gonna be hard this year with the home games we have. Browns, Steelers, and Bears fans will take over BofA. Better buy early.